Historical Prevalence of Infectious Diseases Within 230 Geopolitical Regions: A Tool for Investigating Origins of Culture

Abstract

Regional differences in disease prevalence are associated with a wide array of cross-cultural differences. However, the complex relationships among culture, disease, and other ecological variables remain underinvestigated. Future research into the origins of cultural differences will benefit from the availability of a numerical index identifying the extent to which infectious diseases have been historically prevalent within regions defined by geopolitical borders. This article introduces such an index. This index is based on disease prevalence data obtained from old epidemiological atlases and is calculated for 230 geopolitical regions (mostly nations) around the world.

The Economic and Demographic Transition, Mortality, and Comparative Development

“…The data in the historical disease prevalence across 113 countries is taken from Murray and Schaller (2010). For each pathogen we construct a binary indicator of whether or not a disease has been present at severe or epidemic levels at least once in the history up to the early 20th century.…”

On the Origins of Cultural Differences in Conformity: Four Tests of the Pathogen Prevalence Hypothesis

“…Therefore, in addition to the primary analyses testing the pathogen prevalence hypothesis, we also conducted a series of additional analyses designed to address plausible alternative causal explanations. Murray and Schaller (2010) provide numerical estimates of the historical prevalence of pathogens within each of 230 geopolitical regions worldwide. Most of these geopolitical regions are countries, although some are colonies, territories, or culturally distinct regions within a country.…”

The effect of culture on fiscal redistribution: Evidence based on genetic, epidemiological and linguistic data

“…Similarly, Berg and Bjørnskov (2011) argue that a higher level of generalized trust -which is a basic characteristic of more individualistic societies -mitigates the temptation of free riding and allows for the universal provision of public goods, transfers and services. by a set of genetic, epidemiological and linguistic data that have been linked empirically to this cultural dimension (see Kashima and Kashima, 1998;Murray and Schaller, 2010;Way and Lieberman, 2010). Our analysis suggests that countries characterized by higher levels of individualism present higher levels of redistributive spending.…”

“…extended networks of ''in group'' relationships) to tackle the issue of uncertainty (see e.g. Murray and Schaller, 2010). For this reason, more collectivistic (individualistic) societies were in lower (higher) need of protection from the state when welfare policies were put in place.…”

“…We also use the epidemiological data on pathogen prevalence put together by Murray and Schaller (2010)-denoted as pathogen prevalence. The rationale behind the use of epidemiological data is that stronger pathogen prevalence pushed communities to follow collectivist traits that emphasize the embeddedness of individuals to ''in-group'' relationships and set limits to openness towards foreigners (e.g., Murray and Schaller, 2010).…”